Capsule for Producing a Liquid Food Item, and a Method for Manufacturing a Capsule for the Production of a Liquid Food Item

ABSTRACT

A capsule for producing a liquid food item includes a cover and two chambers for holding two substances. On the capsule, a flange is provided for peripherally supporting the cover, and a shoulder is provided for peripherally supporting a divider for separating the two chambers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2016/001460 filed Aug. 30, 2016, which claims priority to German Application No. 10 2015 011 169.8 filed Sep. 1, 2015, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a capsule for producing a liquid food item and a method for manufacturing same.

BACKGROUND

Capsules for producing a liquid food item, in particular coffee, are known. The capsule has a chamber for accommodating a substance, in particular coffee. A liquid can be introduced into the chamber of the capsule, so that the desired liquid food item, in particular coffee, is formed from the substance and the liquid introduced into it by means of a corresponding device, such as a coffee maker.

DE 10 2007 041 093 A1 describes a capsule for a device for producing liquid food items, said device having two chambers for accommodating two substances to achieve a greater variability in the production of the liquid foods. The construction of the specific capsule is complex and also requires suitably designed devices for use of the capsules.

SUMMARY

The object of the present invention is to create a capsule for producing a liquid food item and a method for manufacturing such a capsule, such that the method permits a simple design of the capsule and/or simple manufacturing of same, while at the same time, there may be the possibility of filling the capsule easily and creating defined conditions for using the capsules.

This object is achieved through the subject matters disclosed herein. Advantageous specific embodiments are also disclosed herein.

The core of the invention is that a capsule can be manufactured, in which there is a flange for supporting a cover at the edge, and there is a shoulder for supporting a divider at the edge for separating the two chambers in the capsule. This design is not only simple in style but also permits easy handling in filling and then placement and connection to the divider and the cover as well as simple use in a device for producing liquid food items.

As an umbrella term, the term “food item” used according to the invention includes both a liquid, such as drinking water, and any solid, pasty or fluidic nutrients and nutritional supplements. The substances in the chambers may be micronutrients, macronutrients, diet foods, high-calorie nutritional supplements, balanceable nutritional supplements, fruit juice (concentrates), vegetable juice (concentrates), powdered fruit, fruit extracts, puree concentrates, pulp concentrates and/or mixtures thereof. The substances may be in the form of a liquid, nectar-like, syrupy, honey-like, solid or semi-solid substance or in the form of a powder, granules or soluble or effervescent tablets, which releases a gas. Powdered substances may be freeze-dried substances.

Micronutrients, which may be water-soluble and fat-soluble, include vitamins, minerals, trace elements and secondary plant substances. Macronutrients include proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

The substances present in the chambers can preferably be separated in such a way that a longer storage time is possible in comparison with a mixture of substances. The substances may be mixed and/or combined shortly before preparation and use and/or oral ingestion of the food.

The term “capsule” is understood according to the invention to refer to a small container that is preferably symmetrical in one axis and is closed in particular, essentially being ellipsoidal, spherical, cylindrical or conical in at least some sections. The container and/or the capsule body may be designed to be cup-shaped or bowl-shaped. The container and/or capsule body may be closed with the cover on the end and/or at the head. The divider may be present in the container to form the subdivision for the two chambers. The cover and the divider may be arranged essentially at a right angle or at a small angle to the axis of symmetry of the container. The capsule and/or the capsule body may have several layers. For example, it is possible for the capsule to consist of layers of PP/EVOH/PP (polypropylene/ethylene-vinyl alcohol/polypropylene). The capsule may also contain or consist of a biodegradable material. The capsule may also contain and/or consist of a thermoplastic produced from PLA. The capsule may also contain PP which is provided with a plasma coating (SiOx). The materials allow simple injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, heat forming, welding, deep drawing and machining. Furthermore, the materials are physiologically safe and are suitable in particular for applications in the area of foods and pharmaceuticals.

The term “flange” is understood according to the invention to refer to a section that protrudes with respect to a surface and is provided in particular on the head of the container and may form a peripheral section of the container and/or the capsule. The cover sits on the flange at the edge and may be embodied as a foil or film. The cover and flange are joined together. The cover may be connected in a physically bonded manner by means of thermowelding, ultrasonic welding or adhesive bonding.

The term “shoulder” used in the invention is understood to refer to an intermediate section extending into the interior of the container, formed at an angle to an inside wall section of the container and/or the capsule. The shoulder may form a portion of a platform. A wall of the container in the area of the shoulder and in the areas adjacent thereto preferably has essentially the same thickness, so that the outside contour of the container corresponds to the inside contour of the container, at least in the aforementioned regions. The shoulder may also be formed at an angle to the outside wall section of the container and/or capsule. The shoulder may interrupt the otherwise uniform shape of the outside contour of a wall of the container/capsule. A divider rests on the shoulder at the edge and is connected to it by means of thermowelding, ultrasonic welding or adhesive bonding, for example, in particular in a physically bonded manner.

The term “divider” is understood according to the invention to refer to a structural element of the capsule which is present for dividing the two chambers in the capsule and/or the container. The divider may be embodied in particular as a foil or film, wherein the term “foil” or “film,” as used according to the invention, includes a thin flat element, which may preferably be embodied as a thin paper, metal or plastic element, which may be embodied as a very thin piece. The divider may be designed as a multilayer element which may include a barrier that may be fluid-tight in particular. The divider may form the bottom for one chamber and the cover for the other chamber, so that two functions are served with one element. The divider and/or the connection of the divider to the shoulder is/are preferably designed, so that the separation function of the divider is eliminated when the liquid food item is being produced, and a fluid is flowing at least partially through the two chambers of the capsule, and the substances are being mixed with the fluid to form the liquid food item. It is possible to provide a perforation element in the capsule, with which the capsule, in particular the bottom, can be and/or is punctured. It is also possible to provide that an intended breaking point is formed in the outside wall of the capsule, in particular in the bottom, which can then be perforated by the perforation element, for example.

The flange and shoulder are preferably connected to one another in one piece, which simplifies production and can make it possible for defined conditions to be maintained. In a particularly preferred specific embodiment, the container of the capsule is designed in one piece, which further simplifies the design and production. For example, the container can be deep drawn or injection molded. One wall of the container may preferably have essentially the same thickness over the entire extent of the wall, wherein the flange of the container may be designed to be slightly thicker.

In one preferred specific embodiment, the flange and the shoulder have essentially the same orientation of their surface normals, so that the filling and placement and/or attachment of the cover and the divider in the subsequent method steps can be carried out by one and the same device, and/or the container need not be moved or oriented differently or even moved to different stations for placement and/or attachment of the cover and the divider. The flange and shoulder are especially preferably designed to be concentric with one another. The first and second chamber may be filled through the same opening in the container. This may result in defined conditions for the two chambers. The chamber arranged above the divider may have a bottom with the divider, which may run essentially parallel to the cover.

The capsule/container preferably comprises a partially spherical or partially elliptical section with a flattened area having essentially the same orientation as a surface normal of the flange and/or of the shoulder, so that defined conditions for the upper and/or lower chamber may be formed. The container may be designed to have rotational symmetry with regard to a surface normal of the flattened area. The handling can be simplified. A geometric shape is created by means of the flattened area and the partially spherical or partially elliptical section, so that a predetermined condition with regard to insertion into a device for producing liquid food items is allowed. The same orientation of the flattened area relative to the flange and/or the shoulder also allows a standing surface on which the capsule can sit.

In a preferred specific embodiment, the flattened area is set back relative to the partially spherical or partially elliptical section and is surrounded by a toroidal peripheral bead. A ring-shaped or elliptical bead around the flattened area may be formed, so that the actual standing surface can be reduced. The bottom stability of the capsule in the area of the flattened area may be increased beyond the offset and/or the embodiment of the bead. Whereas a toroidal bead may be formed toward the outside, there may be a crimp toward the inside, so that the outside contour of the container corresponds essentially to the inside contour of the container. The wall of the container may have essentially the same thickness in the area of the flattened portion and the bead. The wall of the partially spherical or partially elliptical section especially preferably has essentially the same thickness in the edge area adjacent to the bead, the wall forming the bead and the wall of the flattened area. The wall that is set back may be punctured or drilled through to produce the liquid food item, and fluid/liquid can be introduced into the capsule, so that better passage of the stabilized setback wall can be made possible during the puncturing and/or drilling through the bead.

In a preferred specific embodiment, the partially spherical or partially elliptical section of the container/capsule may be designed to be smooth, where the term “smooth” in the sense of the invention refers to a design that is free of steps, edges and/or corners. The partially spherical and/or partially elliptical section in particular may be rotationally symmetrical to a central axis of the section and/or a central surface normal of the flattened portion, so that easy handling of the capsule is possible, which is simplified both in filling the capsule and/or using the capsule in a device for producing liquid food items. A preferred position need not be taken into account.

In a preferred specific embodiment, a peripheral section of the wall, which together with the flange forms an angle of less than 90°, extends between the flange and the shoulder. This enables both stacking of the containers after production of same and at the same time rapid single feed of the stacked containers. An undercut can be designed with this angle. The containers that have been provided without dividers and covers can also be placed securely one inside the other due to the angle being less than 90°, such that the bottom side of a shoulder of a container rests on the inner edge region of a flange of the container beneath it. This ensures that the containers of the capsules do not be arranged in a fixed, form-fitting connection of lateral peripheral edge regions of the containers, but instead essentially supporting surfaces are designed facing one another, and the containers sit loosely one on top of the other. By stacking, the shipping volume can be reduced and automation can be achieved, which can be designed to be less complicated because a simplified single feed is possible.

In a preferred specific embodiment, a wall forming an angle of more than 90° with the shoulder, said wall being part of the partially elliptical or partially spherical section or developing into such a section is connected to the shoulder for support of the divider. The effect of an undercut between the flange and the connected section can be reinforced in this way, and a stack that can be converted quickly to single feed is improved.

The peripheral section between the flange and the shoulder especially preferably runs essentially in a straight line, so that a simple geometry with a simplified production of the container is possible. The peripheral section, which need not run in a straight line, may preferably form a rounded angle of less than 90° with the shoulder.

In a preferred specific embodiment, the cover of the divider and/or the container is comprised of a polypropylene or an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer. The term “comprised of” in the sense of this invention is to be understood broadly and also includes the term “consists of.” These materials allow simple injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, hot forming, welding, deep drawing and machining. Furthermore, these materials are odorless, physiologically safe and are suitable in particular for applications in the field of foods and pharmaceuticals.

In a preferred specific embodiment, the volume ratio of the top chamber to the bottom chamber is in the range of 1:4 to 1:10, more preferably in the range of 1:5 to 1:9, in particular preferably in the range of 1:6 to 1:8 and most especially preferably in the range of 1:6.5 to 1.75. The chambers, which are designed in different sizes, may be adapted to the requirements for production of the liquid food item and in particular may be only as large as needed. For example, micronutrients, macronutrients, diet foods, high-calorie nutritional supplements and balanceable nutritional supplements may be present in the smaller of the two chambers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in more detail in the following, using exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings.

The drawings show:

FIG. 1 a capsule according to the invention in a sectional diagram as seen from the side;

FIG. 2 shows the capsule according to FIG. 1 in a view from beneath;

FIG. 3 shows the capsule according to FIG. 1 in an isometric exploded view; and

FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of two containers stacked one inside the other in the area of a flange and a shoulder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a capsule 1 in a sectional diagram as seen from the side. The capsule 1 has a cup-shaped container 2, a cover 3 and a divider 4.

The container 2 is closed with the cover 3 at the top. The divider 4 subdivides the interior of the container 2 into two areas and/or divides the sealed container 2 into two chambers 5, 6. The divider 4 forms an upper chamber 5 between the cover 3 and the divider 4 in the sealed container 2 and forms a lower chamber 6, which is bordered by the container 2 at the bottom. The upper chamber 5 is smaller than the lower chamber 6. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the volume of the upper chamber 5 amounts to approximately 20 mL, and the volume of the lower chamber 6 amounts to approximately 60 mL. The volume ratio of the upper chamber 5 to the lower chamber 6 is therefore in the range of 1:4 to 1:2. Substances (not shown) are present in the upper and lower chambers 5, 6.

The container 2 is essentially rotationally symmetrical with its central axis. The thickness of the wall of the container 2 is essentially the same everywhere.

The upper chamber 5 is designed with a partially conical shape. The peripheral edge of the upper chamber 5 of the container 2 has a straight-line section 11. A shoulder 7, which forms an angle of less than 90° with the section 11, is connected to the straight-line section 11. The shoulder 7 surrounds the opening of the lower chamber 6 at the edge. The divider 4 sits on the edge of the shoulder 7 and is at least partially connected thereto. The wall of the container 2 is designed in the form of a partially elliptical section in the area of the lower chamber 6.

At the head of the container 2, a flange 8 surrounding the opening of the upper chamber 5 and/or the opening of the entire container 2 at the edge is formed. The cover 3, which is attached at least partially to the flange 8, sits on the flange 8.

The capsule 1 has a flattened area 9 on the bottom at a distance from the cover 3 in the area of the partially elliptical section, formed with rotational symmetry at the center of the container 2. The flattened area 9 is set back with respect to the partially elliptical section. A toroidal elevation 10 facing outward is formed in a ring around the set-back flattened area 9. The inside contour of the container 2 follows the outside contour in this area, so that a crimp-type recess is formed around the flattened area 9 in the interior (cf. FIG. 2).

FIG. 3 shows an exploded diagram of the capsule 1 with the container 2, the divider 4 and the cover 3. The cover 3 and the divider 4 are embodied as films and each is welded to the container 2.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged diagram of two containers 2 stacked one inside the other. The peripheral edge between the flange 8 and the shoulder 7 forms an angle of less than 90° with the flange 8. This results in an undercut between the flange 8 and the peripheral section 11 of the container 2 connected to the flange 8. The section 11 connected to the flange 8 develops into the shoulder 7 with a rounded transition. Flange 8 and shoulder 7 have essentially the same orientation in their surface normals. Flange 8 and shoulder 7 run essentially with a parallel offset from one another.

A support region, which rests on the flange 8 of another container 2, into which yet another container 2 is inserted, is formed on the outside along the edge of the shoulder 7 due to the angle formed between the flange 8 and the peripheral section 11. The containers 2 can thus be stacked one inside the other, wherein supporting surfaces that run essentially horizontally or at a small angle to the horizontal are formed, and there is no form-fitting connection of the partially elliptical sections of two successive containers 2 in the stack. 

1. A capsule for producing a liquid food item, having a cover and two chambers for accommodating two substances, characterized in that a flange is provided for peripheral support of the cover, and a shoulder is provided on the capsule for peripheral support of a divider for separating the two chambers.
 2. The capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the flange and the shoulder are connected to one another in one piece.
 3. The capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the flange and the shoulder have essentially the same orientation of their surface normals.
 4. The capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the capsule comprises a partially spherical or partially elliptical section with a flattened area, which has essentially the same orientation as a surface normal of the flange and/or of the shoulder.
 5. The capsule according to claim 4, characterized in that the flattened area is set back relative to the section and is bordered by a toroidal bulge.
 6. The capsule according to claim 5, characterized in that the partially spherical or partially elliptical section is designed to be smooth.
 7. The capsule according to claim 6, characterized in that a peripheral section, which forms an angle less than 90° with the flange, extends between the flange and the shoulder.
 8. The capsule according to claim 7, characterized in that the peripheral section between the flange and the shoulder runs essentially in a straight line.
 9. The capsule according to claim 8, characterized in that the cover, the divider and/or the capsule comprise(s) a polypropylene or an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer.
 10. The capsule according to claim 9, characterized in that the volume ratio of the upper and lower chamber is in the range of 1:4 to 1:10.
 11. A method for manufacturing a capsule for producing a liquid food item, having a cover and two chambers to hold two substances, characterized by the formation of a capsule with a flange for peripheral support of the cover and a shoulder for peripheral support of a divider for separating the two chambers. 